[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16163]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Federal Subsistence Sheep Season; Baird Mountains, Alaska; Public 
Hearing

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Public hearing regarding the federal subsistence sheep season 
in a portion of Unit 23 in the Baird Mountains, Alaska.

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SUMMARY: A public hearing is scheduled regarding the federal 
subsistence sheep season in the Baird Mountain portion of Unit 23. 
Dependent upon the status of the sheep population, the Federal 
Subsistence Board may have to exercise its closure authority to 
conserve healthy and natural populations of sheep in the area. If such 
a closure becomes necessary, this public meeting will have fulfilled 
the requirements of 50 CFR 100.19. The purpose of the meeting will be 
to inform the public of the status of the sheep population and of 
potential proposals to the Federal Subsistence Board for action. Public 
comment will be accepted.

BACKGROUND: Aerial surveys conducted in the Baird Mountains (that area 
of Unit 23 south and east of the Noatak River) show a dramatic decline 
in the sheep population since 1989. In an effort to protect this 
population and facilitate its recovery, this area has been closed to 
all hunting of sheep since 1991, through closure actions of the Federal 
Subsistence Board. Survey results from July 1992 indicate the sharp 
decline has at least temporarily stopped; however, the population has 
not significantly grown. A sheep survey by the Alaska Department of 
Fish and Game and the National Park Service is scheduled for mid-July 
1994. These survey results are expected to be available for discussion 
at the July 21 meeting. Should the survey and past biological data 
indicate a continuing threat to the conservation of a health population 
of sheep in the Baird Mountains of Unit 23, a proposal will be advanced 
to the Federal Subsistence Board to once again close federal public 
lands to sport hunting, under Alaska regulations, and, perhaps, to the 
subsistence seasons currently scheduled for August 10-September 20, 
1994, and October 1-April 30, 1995. The Federal Subsistence Board will 
make a final determination on any such proposed closure, if advanced.
    The National Park Service is hosting this meeting as the principal 
federal land manager in the Baird Mountains area. The federal lands in 
the Baird Mountain area are within the Noatak National Preserve, Kobuk 
Valley National Park, and Kobuk District, Bureau of Land Management.

DATE/LOCATION: The meeting will be held July 21, 1994, at 7:00 p.m. in 
the Public Lands Information Center, Kotzebue, Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Gerhard, Superintendent, Northwest 
Alaska Areas, P.O. Box 1029 Kotzebue, Alaska 99752, telephone: (907) 
442-3890.
David B. Ames,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-16163 Filed 7-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M